The Lotus Family consists of a small group of mainly flesh water aquatic plants, some are amphibious in nature. The most well known species is the giant Victoria Waterlily of the Amazon River scientifically called the Victoria amazonica. This is a magnificent aquatic lily grown for its very fragrant, beautiful blooms and huge, deep green leaves which can grow to be 2 meters across and is large enough for a grown man to lie on a leaf. The night-blooming flowers are white when they open, then slowly turn to red as they age. Their fragrance is reminiscent of pineapples and very rich. The leaves have a curled up edge which is a fuschia color and can be 12 to 15 centimeters high, creating a captivating effect in the water. It must have full sun and warm temperatures at all times. Sow seeds in balls of rich mud and submerge them in a tub of water. Alternately, sow singly in pots and submerge the pots in shallow water.

The night-bloomingVictoria amazonica Victoria amazonica leaves

Its cousin, Victoria cruziana, however is more easily cultivated and adapts better to cooler climates. Some plants of these giant waterlilies were brought into Malaysia by the Ministry of Agriculture and planted as a park attraction. The two main genus of this family that is found in Malaysia are the Lotus that belongs to the genus Nelumbium and the waterlily that belongs to the genus Nymphaea.

The well known lotus can be found throughout the country. Most of the varieties found are of the species Nelumbium nelumbo. However there are also many hybrids of lotuses. Most lotuses are fragrant. Many have escaped from cultivation and are now growing in the wild.

One example, of a hybrid that is not found in the wild is the Nelumbo nelumbo 'Rosea Plena', which is an excellent choice for a small to medium sized pond in the home garden. It is a generous bloomer that produces deep pink, double flowers. It is one of the best of the double Lotus. Leaves can grow to as much as 50 centemeters in diameter and are held on stems up to 1.5 meter tall.

Nelumbo nelumbo 'Rosea Plena'

Nelumbo nelumbo 'Mrs. Perry D. Slocum' is a lotus where the flower lasts for three days. When the flower first opens it is pink in colour. It is a changeable lotus. It pink colour fades away and it changes color gradually from pink on its first day to yellow tinged with pink on its third day. This photo was taken late on the flower's third and last day of the fading of the flower. Here the middle of the flower has almost faded to an off white.

Nelumbo nelumbo 'Mrs. Perry D. Slocum'

On the right is another view of a lily pond with Nelumbo nelumbo 'Mrs. Perry D. Slocum'. Here they are at the yellow and pink phase of their flower colour. A young fruit can be seen forming between the three flowers. The plant needs full sun, and can grow to a height of one meter. It has a very fragrant flower. The flowers here are mostly of the early second day. This is a reliable and generously blooming lotus. The plant grows to 1.5 or 2 meters tall and the leaves can be up to 60 centimeters across. The flower is changeable and there can be flowers of three different colors on the plant at one time. It starts out pink flushed with yellow, the next day the flowers are pink and yellow, the third day the flowers are a cream color flushed with pink.

Nelumbo nelumbo 'Mrs. Perry D. Slocum'

Also known as "Alba striata' the Empress Lotus is very striking and a moderate bloomer. The splash of red on the creamy white petals is very distictive. It is best suited for medium to large ponds.

Nelumbo nelumbo 'Alba striata' or 'Empress'

Nelumbo nelumbo 'Perry's Giant Sunburst' has large, pleasantly fragrant, butter yellow blossoms that are held well above large leaves. It is easy to grow for beginners and will likely bloom in its first season.

Waterlilies are far more common in Malaysia and there are much more varieties and hybrids available. The varieties and colour range is also more varied. The two main species found in Malaysia are the Nymphaea stellata and the Nymphaea lotus.

The Nymphaea lotus comes in two main colours, the rubia which is red to pink and the alba which are white to cream. Nymphaea odorata on the other hand has blooms that are extremely fragrance.

Nymphaea lotus 'alba'

Nymphaea odorata on the other hand has blooms that are extremely fragrance.

Nymphaea odorata

The Nymphaea stellata has many hybrid varieties with a wide range of shade of blue to violet. Below are a selection of well
known hybrids.

Nymphaea stellata

Nymphaea lotus
'Charles de Meurville'

Nymphaea lotus 'Charles de Meurville' is a Marliac waterlily.It is a very hardy plant. It is very free flowering. The flowers
are rose colored. the inner petals dark pinkish red, outer petals are pink. The blooms are 15 to 18 centimeters across and
have a slight fragrance.

Nymphaea lotus 'Charles de Meurville'

Nymphaea lotus 'Texas Dawn'

Nymphaea lotus 'Texas Dawn' has the largest flowers among the varieties of small waterlily hybrids. Although it is a small
waterlily, it often holds its flowers up to six inches out of the water. It is also a very hardly plant.

Nymphaea lotus
'Texas Dawn'

Among the most popular varieties,
Nymphaea lotus 'Chromatella', is one of the most forgiving of waterlilies. Will grow in shade or sun and look equally good.
The flower color is rich, creamy canary yellow with a light pink blush at the bottoms of the sepals. The leaves are olive-green
with bronze markings. This lily does best in two or more feet of water, It is also a very hardly plant. It may be a cross between
the Yellow Nymphaea lotus and the Blue Nymphaea stellata

Nymphaea lotus 'Chromatella'

Nymphaea lotus 'Red Flare' is one of the waterlily that blooms at night . It is a tropical waterlily. It has an unusual deep purple
foilage. Most tropical waterlilis blooms at night.

Nymphaea lotus 'Red Flare'

Nymphaea lotus 'Chrysantha', Blooms are
small, with reddish-yellow coloring, changing with age to an almost vermillion shade. The stamens are a brilliant orange. Leaves
are dark green mottled with brown. This is a good selection for small ponds and tub gardens. Prefers to grow in areas that
donít get extremely hot.

Nymphaea lotus 'Chrysantha'

Nymphaea lotus 'Comanche', This
changeable waterlily is yellow with a rose-apricot blush when first opening and gradually changing to a coppery red as the
blossoms mature. Outer petals tend to retain a somewhat yellow color, stamens are orange.

Nymphaea lotus
'Comanche'

Nymphaea lotus 'Conqueror', The
blossoms are a deep red flecked with white, with the outer petals white darkening to a light pink. The flowers are large and
cup shaped with petals that are broad with incurving tips. It is a prolific bloomer, and does best in a small to medium pond.
It is a good choice for tub gardens or larger ponds.

Nymphaea lotus 'Conqueror'

Nymphaea lotus 'Attraction', one of the
brightest reds. Flowers are up to 6 inches in diameter, are a lovely red surrounded by white sepals. Their color tends to
deepen with age. This is a robust grower and should be in a place where it can expand to 2 meters. Leaves grow up to 30
centimeters in diameter and are green with no variegations.

Nymphaea odorata 'Anna Emmett',
Petals are chartreuse half-way up and then shade to a light blue. Leaves are green, bronze speckledand have a wavy margin.
They are suited to warm, shallow water in the full sun. Their displays of brilliantly colored, intensely fragrant flowers are a
delight throughout the growing season.

Nymphaea odorata 'Anna Emmett'

Nymphaea odorata 'Albert Greenberg',
Leaves easily reach 45 centimeters in diameter and are beautifully mottled with irregular purple variegations. Flowers are a
combination of pink, yellow, and orange. Some say that it is like a Tequila Sunrise. They are generally over 15 centimeters in
diameter during the peak season. As the weather turns cold, the normally dark green leaves with numerous irregular variegations,
turn brilliant red and orange.

Nymphaea odorata 'Alice Tricker',
This is one of the all time favorites for vigor, beauty, and size. Large white blossoms, wide petals, and is a strong prolific
grower. By all means this is a must have for any devoted water gardener.

Nymphaea odorata
'Alice Tricker'

Nymphaea odorata 'Charlene Strawn',
Yellow, star shaped blossom, holds bloom high above the water. A prolific bloomer with a long season. Very fragrant and
very hardy. Recommended for medium to large ponds.

Nymphaea odorata 'Charlene Strawn'

Nymphaea stellata 'Blue Capensis',
Flowers are star shaped, bright blue, and large of 15 to 20 centimeters. Sepals are spotless and pure green with the
inner stamens yellow.The flowers are sweetly scented, like that of violets. Leaves are large,very wavy,surface of leaf is
green, with the underside being green with blotches and streaks of reddish-purple.

Nymphaea stellata 'Blue Capensis'

Nymphaea stellata 'Colorata',
A miniature, the flowers are 10 centimeters across and lilac colored. The Blossom has rather broad petals, purple stamens,
and is very, very, fragrant. The leaves are numerous, cicular in shape, 10 centimeters in diameter, dark green above and
purplish underneath. This lily is well adapted to small ponds and tub gardens, It will do well in a larger pond around the
edge in about 15 centimeters of water.

Nymphaea stellata 'Colorata'

Nymphaea stellata 'Dauben',
Blossoms are light blue, 15 to 20 centimeters in diameter, with yellow centers and a slight but delicious fragrance.
The plant is a prolific bloomer. Leaves are more or less ovate, green on top and bottom, with fine purple variegations
on the undersides.